Page 3026 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 14 August 2013
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Under the first four rounds of the scheme 1,364 NRAS dwellings have already been delivered in the ACT, with another 1,186 approved. So far, the ACT’s total of 2,550 allocations represents 6.6 per cent of incentives allocated nationally. We are punching above our weight.
NRAS dwellings not only improve affordability by contributing to the total stock of housing, but are rented at no more than 80 per cent of market rate to low and moderate income households for 10 years. The Land Development Agency’s innovative OwnPlace initiative has also been very successful in providing affordable house and land packages in Bonner and Franklin, at a fixed price to eligible home purchasers that have a combined household income of $120,000 or less. A total of 454 homes were sold through OwnPlace, with 428 already delivered.
The 2013-14 budget provided for a range of urban renewal projects right across the city, including investment in arts, sport and recreation, community parks and local shops.
The local shopping centres in Evatt, Kambah, Rivett, Fisher and Hughes will be upgraded, with $360,000 allocated for design work. The designs will be the subject of consultation with shoppers and traders, to help bring new life to these local centres and increase their viability. Kambah and Rivett will receive minor design upgrades, while Evatt, Fisher and Hughes will receive significantly improved designs, taking into account aspects such as paving, drainage, new seating and bins, parking, lighting and landscaping;
The budget provides $240,000 for the installation of 30 new drinking fountains across Canberra, including at town centres, parks and sporting facilities and near schools. A further $210,000 will go towards the maintenance of the drinking fountains and the provision of refill stations as well as free, reusable water bottles for use at public events such as Floriade. Ten thousand—10,000, Mr Assistant Speaker—reusable water bottles will be given out over the next two financial years
$200,000 has been allocated in this year’s budget to undertake a safety audit of skate parks across Canberra, as well as for design and upgrade work at Kambah adventure playground and at Eddison skate park. $200,000 has also been allocated to replace barbecues at Yarralumla Bay, Lake Ginninderra district park, Umbagong District Park, Yerrabi Pond District Park, Bowen Park and Lennox Gardens. $1.7 million has been allocated for design and feasibility studies for new walking and cycling infrastructure across Canberra.
There are many other initiatives I could mention; I have mentioned only a few in discussing this motion.
Lastly, I would like to take a few minutes to talk about the reform of the ACT tax system. In the 2012-13 budget, the ACT government commenced significant reform of the territory’s taxation system. As a result of this reform, a number of unfair taxes are being abolished over a period of five to 20 years, including duty on insurance premiums, helping every Canberra family; and stamp duty on conveyancing. This reform will continue in the 2013-14 budget. From 1 July 2013, duty on general
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